Once a circuit has been designed and simulated /
tested in Crocodile Technology and any necessary alterations made, the
completed circuit is ready for export to ‘real PCB’®. Both Crocodile
Technology and Real PCB software must be running at the same time for
this to be possible.

(Please
note: the uptodated version of Crocodile Technology is
called Yenka Electronics. This allows the design and conversion of
circuits to PCB, in an integrated environment)

Circuit
Wizard is a very good alternative piece of software that allows the
design of circuits and conversion to PCB.

The conversion to PCB layout can be achieved through a menu in Crocodile
Technology. Real PCB converts the circuit diagram effortlessly to PCB
layout and usually with 100% accuracy.

Real PCB can also be used to construct a circuit as a PCB layout, from
scratch, by selecting components from a series of menus and drawing the
tracks connecting them. It can be used by both beginners and experts to
produce accurate PCBs. Quality checks can be carried out automatically
and the software will also produce a bill for the components used on any
PCB.

The ‘Pour Copper’ menu changes the final PCB by only removing enough
copper so that the tracks can be seen. This means that only the
necessary copper is removed to ensure the final circuit works. This
extends the life of etchant used in the etchant tank.

Two more ways of presenting the PCB are shown below. The 'artwork'
layout is the most likely to be printed out on a transparency, ready for
conversion to PCB. The real life layout style shows the PCB with its
components. This is useful when arranging the components on the PCB, as
the position of each can be check against a real life printed.

When the PCB layout is finished it is printed on a
transparency and becomes known as a PCB mask. The PCB mask is
transferred to the UV box, which is the next stage in the manufacture of
a printed circuit board.

Advantages of using circuit and PCB software:1. Circuits can be simulated on screen
without the need to build a circuit on a breadboard with real
components.2. Errors can be corrected and alterations
made to the circuit by simply replacing components from menus.3. No soldering is needed, simply move
components with a mouse.4. Using simulation software is safer than
soldering with hot soldering irons and avoids dangerous fumes being
produced whilst soldering.

5.
Once a PCB has been designed it can be printed onto transparencies
repeatedly, all to the same high quality.6. PCB layout software is more accurate
than drawing a circuit by hand.